Anne-Laure Cano presented by 155A Gallery – All photos courtesy of Collect international fair 2023.

Design, Crafts – Which are the collectible craft and design areas in greater demand among collectors? How has the pandemic changed the approach to collecting in a post-pandemic world? Has online shopping impacted in-person purchases? The answers are displayed at Collect, the international fair taking over Somerset House in London. [March 3-5, Tickets – Map].

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Textile piece by Dalia James, represented by Cavaliero Finn, and vase by Bisila Noha, represented by Thrown Gallery.

Are there any particular areas of craft in greater demand among collectors?

Twenty textile markers shine at Collect 2023. Textiles have led the explosion of interest in craft, particularly online, with a 44% increase in orders over the past year on Artsy.net in the past year, and more broadly, orders in the contemporary craft category have doubled in the past year, also indicating a strong demand for 3D pieces.

Textile-mirror by Anton Laborde, presented by Galerie Revel.

How’s the market recovered after the pandemic?

19th edition of Collect is set to confirm that, after suffering its worst recession in more than a decade in 2020 due to the strictures brought about by COVID-19, the market is steadily on the right track again. In 2021, it rallied to a nearly unforeseeable degree, achieving a level even higher than that of the year before the pandemic started. Aggregate sales by dealers and auctioneers reached $65.1 billion, soaring by 29% from 2020, according to the 2022 Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report.

Candlestick by Ane Christensen, represented by FIVE, wooden shell by Duke Christie, represented by jaggedart, and silver sculpture by Jessica Jue, represented by FIVE.

Is the virtual and in-person format a winning solution?

After going all virtual in 2020, Collect confirms its 2021 and 2022 hybrid format thanks to a consolidated and successful partnership with Artsy.net. Complementing the physical fair at Somerset House, all works on display will additionally be available to view and purchase online via the global digital platform from 1 to 12 March 2023. Artsy.net cites Collect as one of its most successful virtual fairs.

Nina Casson McGarva, presented by London Glassblowing.

According to an Artsy.net report, in the past year, e-commerce sales have grown by 123%, and that growth continues this year, with September being one of their best months to date. Their research shows that 76% of collectors bought art online in the past 12 months, with 56% of them spending more than half of their art budget online–reflecting a rising interest in contemporary art and craft–and particularly among the next generation of art collectors who are increasingly looking for unique and authentic pieces and confidently purchase online.

Moonju Suh, presented by Craft Scotland.

Has online shopping impacted in-person purchases?

The pandemic drove much of the market online in 2020, and as restrictions started to ease up in 2021, digital sales continued to grow. Even if in-person audiences to art fairs are already returning to numbers comparable to pre-pandemic levels – Collect attracted over 9,100 visitors in 2022 -the growth in online purchases appears not to be a substitute for the physical artistic and cultural experience. According to a report by Deloitte, “virtual platforms have proven only partially able to support the overall market.”

Familiar Elements by Lucille Lewin, presented by Joanna Bird.

All photos: courtesy of Collect International Fair 2023.

Vessels by Max Lamb, presented by 1882 Ltd.